Rabbit Leggy Smashems Running Shorts Review
The form-fitting shorts from rabbit have 6 pockets and come in two lengths so you can find your perfect fit.
The soft and flexible waistband is 3” in length and doesn’t roll down.
July 21, 2026
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Our verdict
The rabbit Leggy Smashems are a uniquely designed road-running short with some highly desirable features, though some seem just a bit off. The pockets were plentiful, including a secure zippered one. My phone fit in almost all of the pockets, and there was minimal bounce when running. The drop-in pockets could have been deeper, but the numerous waistband pockets made storage not an issue, which is ideal for longer road or trail runs when you have to pack quite a bit in your shorts within easy reach.
rabbit Leggy Smashems 5”
What felt off about these shorts was the fit when getting them on—they felt almost too small, as the waistband didn’t quite stretch enough to get over our hips and butts, and they took some effort to get on. Similarly, the leg openings felt like they were digging into our thighs and lacked silicone grippers on the bottom or an open cut, unlike the Janji Pace Shorts, the best overall road running shorts in our Best Road Running Shorts guide.
However, once I started running, the Leggy Smashems provided good coverage, support, and fit. We tested a pair with a 5” inseam (a 7” inseam is also available) and found only a bit of chafing from our legs rubbing together at the end of a 4.5-mile run in hot weather.
These shorts offer mid-compression, so if you don’t want to be squeezed into a pair of shorts but still want some support for your runs (plus storage and breathability), these are an excellent option.
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Rabbit Leggy Smashems 5” specifications
Price: $70
Sizes: XS-XL
Inseam options: 5-inch, 7-inch
Fit: low to mid compression
Fabric: Polyester, spandex, and nylon
Weight: 5.8 ounces (size M)
Liner: No
Pockets: Two side drop-in pockets, one zippered back pocket, 360 mesh waistband pocket
Phone pocket: Yes
Waistband: Mid-rise, nylon and spandex, internal drawstring
Split: No
Gusseted crotch: Yes
Quick-dry: Yes
Reflective elements: Yes
Best for
The rabbit Leggy Smashems combine a mid-rise waistband with low-to-mid compression, and are ideal for short to medium distances.
Long road runs where pockets can hold a phone, fuel, gels, water bottles, and more
Runners who like low to mid compression
Runners with thighs that touch and need protection from legs rubbing together, without having to wear longer shorts
Any runner who likes ample pocket storage
Hot weather runs
Comparison table
| Running Shorts | Available Sizes | Lengths | Liner | Rise | Compression | Pockets | Reflective Elements | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rabbit Leggy Smashems | XS-XL | 5, 7" | No | Mid | High | 6 | Yes | $70 |
| Arc’teryx Essent High-Rise Utility Short | 00-16 | 6" | No | High | High | 2 | Yes | $90 |
| Bandit Stamina-V High Waist Compression Short | XS-XL | 3, 5, 7" | No | High | High | 5 | Yes | $88 |
| Janji Pace Short | XXS-XXXL | 5, 7" | No | High | Mid to high | 4 | Yes | $74, 78 |
| Patagonia Maipo Shorts | XXS-XXL | 8" | No | High | Light | 2 | No | $75 |
What we liked
Plenty of pockets to hold all you need on a mid- to longer-length run
Available in both a 5” and 7” inseam
Quick-drying and very lightweight; perfect for warmer weather
What could be better
Runs slightly small
The drawstring doesn’t lie flat in the waistband and bunches up
The leg openings and waistband are not stretchy, dug into our bodies, and were not supportive
Inclusive sizing
How we tested
We wore the rabbit Leggy Smashems with a 5-inch inseam on many road and trail runs, as well as hikes and dog walks around Boulder, Colorado, plus a few very humid runs in Wisconsin. Tester’s body types included curves (read: ample butt and thighs) and a thinner, toned butt/legs. Both runners wore a size medium in testing.
Runs and hikes ranged from 3 to 10 miles, with average paces from 9-minute miles to 12-minute miles on the trail. The shorts were worn in temperatures ranging from the mid-50s with clouds to warmer temperatures near 80 degrees Fahrenheit with lots of sunshine and humidity.
We carried our phones and small water bottle flasks in all the pockets (side and back) to test how much bounce they produced.
Performance in the field
The back zippered pocket on the shorts can securely hold a card or keys, but won’t fit a larger phone.
Fit and movement
When putting these on, the waistband felt difficult to get over my hips and butt, and the leg openings felt tight once properly in place. Perhaps they were a size too small, but every other short we tested came in a size medium and fit well. Even though the waistband and leg openings dug in a bit, once we were running, the shorts fit well, with enough stretch and slight compression to keep us comfortable on short- to medium-length runs.
Waistband behavior
The waistband was the biggest gripe for these shorts. It’s 3” wide, but is tight on the top hem and bottom hem with very little support in between. Because there is no structure on the waistband, the inner drawstring can be seen bunched up and can be felt a bit when running. We didn’t encounter this problem with other shorts with inner drawstrings.
Pocket usability
The pockets on the rabbit Leggy Smashems are plentiful and mostly usable. There are two side drop-in pockets, one zippered back pocket, and a 360-degree mesh waistband pocket.
The side pockets are slimmer but could still fit my iPhone 16 (with an OtterBox case and a PopSocket attached). They aren’t very deep and only cover the length of my phone and no more. I could, though, fit a small, hardshell flask water bottle in the side pockets with minimal bounce while running.
My phone can squeeze into the back zipper pocket, but I can’t get it out mid-run without fully stopping and wrestling with the pocket a bit. The smaller front pockets in the waistband easily and comfortably held lip balm and dog poop bags; anything heavier only slightly weighed the unstructured waistband down.
Breathability and heat management
These shorts performed very well in hot, humid weather while running in Wisconsin at temperatures over 75 degrees. On the body, the fabric feels thin and lightweight; they are quick drying and made with Ionic+ silver technology, which is said to eliminate odor, fight bacteria, and feel cool to the touch. In my testing, the shorts didn’t necessarily feel any cooler to the touch than other shorts, but I did find that they fared slightly better when it comes to staying clean and stink-free.
Chafe prevention
With a 5” inseam, I was concerned about chafing, as I have chafed in other shorts that were 5” or shorter. Surprisingly, on a 4.5-mile run, I only started chafing right at the end from my inner thighs rubbing together. No other parts of the shorts caused chafing. The Smashems do come in a 7-inch option, which is helpful if the 5-inch doesn’t work for your body type or you prefer more coverage. There are no silicone grippers on the hems, but they didn’t ride up while running a few miles at both faster and more casual paces.
Durability
The shorts are made from a stretchy polyester-spandex blend. After a few runs and machine washing, there is no stretching, wear and tear, or pilling.
Features
The side drop-in pockets are tight and big enough to hold an iPhone 16 or a small flask water bottle.
Built-in liner — These shorts do not have a built-in liner.
Elastic waistband with drawcord — The mid-rise, 3”-wide waistband has a drawstring.
Zip or stretch pockets — There are two drop-in side pockets, one zippered pocket on the back of the waistband, and three front mesh pockets on the waistband.
Phone pocket — My iPhone 16 with an OtterBox case and PopSocket fit easily in the side drop-in pockets, and very tightly in the back zippered pocket.
Lightweight fabric — The shorts are made from a quick-drying, lightweight fabric.
Gusseted crotch — There is a gusseted crotch.
Reflective elements — The back zipper is reflective, but it may not be visible if your running shirt is long. If you’ll be running in the dark, check out our Best Reflective Gear for Running in the Dark guide.
Sustainability — The shorts are made with Ionic+ silver recycled polyester. Rabbit also uses 100% post-consumer material and entirely recyclable mailers and shoe boxes.
Similar running shorts
rabbit Leggy Smashems vs. Arc’teryx Essent
Price: $90
Sizes: 00 to 16
Inseam options: 6”
Fit: High compression
Fabric: Nylon, spandex; polyester power mesh lining on waistband
Weight: 4.8 oz
Pockets: Two side drop-in pockets, back waistband pocket with key loop, front waistband pockets for fuel
The Arc’teryx Essent High-Rise Utility shorts are similar to the rabbit Leggy Smashems shorts. They are lightweight, stretchy and move with you, but do have a slightly more compressive feeling than the rabbits. The Essent shorts are 1 inch longer in the inseam, and we’ve found no chafing with these, even on longer runs.
The Arc’teryx shorts have silicone grippers at the hem of the leg openings, unlike the Leggy Smashems, which did feel a bit tight. There are two side drop-in pockets, a large back waistband pocket (with a key loop), and another slip-in pocket on the front waistband. Some testers found this pair too tight around the waist, possibly due to the longer 4-inch waistband.
Learn more in our in-depth review of the Arc’teryx Essent High-Rise Utility Shorts.
Arc’teryx Essent High-Rise Utility Short
rabbit Leggy Smashems vs Bandit Stamina-V Compression Shorts
Price: $88
Sizes: XS to XL
Inseam options: 3”, 5”, 7”
Fit: High compression
Fabric: Polyester, recycled polyester, elastane
Weight: 4.8 oz
Pockets: Two side drop-in pockets with a waterproof interior, two waistband gel pockets
The Bandit Stamina-V shorts have compression similar to the Leggy Smashems, but a different overall fit, with a longer, more supportive waistband and no seams running up the groin area. However, our testers did find more chafing in the Bandits than the rabbit shorts. The Bandits have similar pockets, though the pockets on the Bandit road running shorts have a waterproof inner layer, which is ideal for very sweaty runs.
Bandit Stamina-V High Waist Compression Short
Should I buy the rabbit Leggy Smashems?
Buy if you want lightweight, quick-drying, form-fitting shorts with plenty of storage for phones, water bottles, and more, or if you prefer low- to mid-compression rather than something super tight.
Skip if you don’t need much storage, or want a higher level of compression.
Where to buy
The rabbit Leggy Smashems are popular gear items, so you have options when it comes to retailers. Here are some of the pros of the retailers.
REI
Pros: 100% satisfaction policy for 1 year; 10% dividend for members.
Rabbit Running
You can sometimes find more options when purchasing directly from the manufacturer. Sometimes, purchasing directly from the retailer can make it easier if you need to make a warranty return due to a defect.
Advice on where to buy
In general for shorts, we recommend purchasing from a place with easy or free returns like REI. If your funds allow, many people find it is faster to order two sizes and return whichever one didn't fit as well. Additionally, check reviews to see whether other users recommend sizing up or down.
Why you should trust us / About the author
Based in Boulder, Colorado, Mattie specializes in writing about outdoor adventures, gear, travel, fitness, health, and education/parenting, with more than 10 years of experience. Her areas of expertise include trail running, camping, backpacking, snowboarding, and hiking.
Mattie's favorite part of living in Boulder is the easy access to so many trails to enjoy — whether that’s hiking, trail running, or road running, she gets outside by any means with her dog, Imogene. Every summer, she trains for some sort of trail race in Colorado; in past years, she has run the Imogene Pass Run in Ouray, the West Line Winder in Buena Vista, and the Crested Butte Ultra. You can read more of Mattie’s work at her website or on her author page.
